Today, I will run: The conclusion

Perspiring Daily News reporter Tony Lascari stretches after completing the Midland Blue Planet Run 5K run on Saturday. Lascari said he cut two minutes off his practice times and met his goal of 28 minutes "almost exactly."

Twenty-seven minutes and 57 seconds.

That time is just below the goal of 28 minutes that I set weeks ago as I began training for my first-ever 5 kilometer race  Saturdays Midland Blue Planet Run.

Walking to the starting line I pictured the race route in my mind. I tried to gauge where to put myself in the pack of runners around me so not too many would pass me once we all found our pace.

I tried not to let myself get too nervous.

My first mile went fast  probably too fast for me, at just more than eight minutes. The second mile was a little slower, and third even slower. Some encouragement at the end pushed me across the line, and thats when my "runners high" set in.

In training, I ran a 5K twice. Both times it took me 30 minutes. Having others around me in the race atmosphere must have pushed me, shaving off those two minutes.

The reason I started training more than nine weeks ago was to get active, and spend less time on my couch. Ive certainly accomplished that.

My time was just good enough to get me 14th place out of 22 runners in my age group, the 20- to 30-year-olds.

What Ive learned by going through the process has meant more to me than the time I got or the place I finished in, though. What I expected to learn was how to get my body in shape, but the training seemed to bring more of a challenge.

Throughout the process I found the encouragement of friends, family, colleagues and even strangers invaluable, getting me through the tough times when my mind just didnt want me to run.

Ive found that when you set a goal and make it known, people will hold you accountable to it.

Thats something to carry into other parts of my life, making sure that I encourage those around me to meet the goals in their lives.